6.1 General

Protecting the public during a nuclear emergency is a complex operation that requires the efforts of multiple emergency response organizations. One of EMO’s goals is to set the conditions to allow a transition to recovery operations as quickly as possible. This plan details the operational functions that enable transition to recovery operations to be as effective as possible.

6.2 Response Activities

The response to a nuclear emergency includes the following activities:

  1. Rapidly identify that a potential emergency is developing
  2. Rapidly notify offsite response organizations to the developing situation
  3. Activate response organizations to a level commensurate to the developing nuclear emergency, staffed with well-trained individuals in all critical positions
  4. Share information from the NGS such that response organizations can take measures to protect the public, as indicated and appropriate
  5. Take protective actions and measures to protect the public (Section 6.3 )
  6. Coordinate response activities between response organizations
  7. Ensure the continuity of critical functions
  8. Communicate with the public in a timely manner to maintain public awareness and the public’s trust in the ongoing response efforts
  9. Gather radiological information to develop a complete picture of radiological contamination in the environment following a release (even a filtered release following a DBA)
  10. Manage the medical response, including efforts to minimize the psychosocial impacts of the emergency
  11. Ensure emergency responders are aware of the radiological risk and take actions to keep their effective doses ALARA
  12. Identify when a nuclear emergency can transition from response to recovery operations
  13. Establish a recovery organization to manage the long-term recovery efforts.

6.3 Protective Actions

6.3.1 Guiding Principles for Protective Action Decision-Making

Based on the Planning Basis (Annex K ), protective actions to mitigate nuclear and radiological emergencies include both precautionary measures (Annex L.1 ) and protective measures (Annex L.2).

Protective actions are complementary to each other and may be applied in combination as a protective action response strategy appropriate to the situation, while considering their respective efficacies and limitations.

Protective actions should be applied to prevent increased public exposure to radiation. In practice, this may not always be justified as protective actions entail risks and costs, including psychosocial, economic, and health risks to vulnerable populations (e.g., evacuation could result in early or premature deaths). It is therefore necessary to justify and optimize  the application of protective actions in order to minimize the total risk or detriment involved (Annex A.2 ).

In a nuclear emergency, if a protective measure is warranted at any boundary of a response sector in the DPZ (see Annex M ) it should be applied to the whole response sector. If a protective measure is warranted in a sector of the Automatic Action Zone (AAZ) and DPZs, it should be applied to the entire ring of sectors in order to ensure protection when winds are shifting.

For areas beyond the DPZ, modeling may be used to identify areas where surveys and sampling are required to assess the need for protective actions. It is unlikely for evacuation to be required as a plume exposure control measure beyond the DPZ.

6.3.2 Responsibilities for Protective Action Decision Making

The CEM, as operational lead for the offsite response (Section 7.6.6.1), has the authority for protective action decision-making where an emergency exists but has not yet been declared to exist.

After a provincial emergency has been declared, certain protective action decisions may issued by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (LGIC) via provincial emergency order subject to the criteria and conditions outlined in the EMCPA. During a declared provincial emergency, the authority to issue emergency orders under subsection 7.0.2(4) may be delegated from the LGIC to a Minister of the Crown or the CEM. The CEM shall be responsible for communicating the protective actions and the areas they apply to.

Detailed information regarding direction and implementation of precautionary and protective measures will be developed and communicated as follows:

  1. During the preparedness stage through the Nuclear Public Education and Awareness Program Framework by the applicable responsibilities as defined in the PNERP
  2. During the emergency, through public direction (Section 8.7.2 ) and through the emergency public information operation (Section 8.7.2.2 ).

Detailed descriptions of Protective Actions can be found in Annex L .

6.4 Emergency Planning Zones

Emergency Planning Zones (EPZ) are areas in which implementation of operational and protective actions are, or might be, required during a nuclear emergency, in order to protect public health, safety, and the environment. The four planning zones include:

  1. Automatic Action Zone (AAZ)
  2. Detailed Planning Zone (DPZ)
  3. Contingency Planning Zone (CPZ)
  4. Ingestion Planning Zone (IPZ)

Ongoing operational response will generally occur within the EPZs based on the action to be taken within the zone. See Annex M for more information on planning zones.

EPZs are determined by the technical methodology and planning basis and are site and technology specific. EPZ maps are included in the site-specific implementing plans.